EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S TURF Going Together
Casey Reynolds, PhD
Tere is an old saying that I am sure we’ve all heard that states, “If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.” As I often reflect on this, I think to myself that I cannot name a single case of when that is not true.
Whether it is running a farming operation or supplier company like many of our TPI members do, or even our staff here at TPI, it really does take a collective effort to truly go far. I am positive that TPI would not be in its fifty-third year without the collective effort of many TPI past presidents, board of trustee members, committee members, members, and staff. Fast forward to today, and we would almost certainly not have scored some of our recent successes in government regulations around CFAP2 funds and sod as agriculture without the support of TPI members and the efforts of our staff and consultants.
While these successes will serve us well for years to come, our largest and most significant opportunity to continue moving our industry forward is just around the corner with an upcoming vote on the U.S. Sod Checkoff program sometime next year. If you look at recent and past successes that have been funded by just TPI dues- paying members, think of how much impact a U.S. Sod Checkoff board could have if they brought every U.S. sod farm to the table. Current estimates project that 1/10 of one penny for every square foot of sod sold could raise as much as $14 million or more annually to fund powerful and impactful programs in research, promotion, building codes and regulations, and more to protect and grow our industry.
Furthermore, there is no reason that sod farmers should have to carry this burden alone. Te saying about checkoffs that “everyone contributes because everyone benefits” is not only true for sod farms but also for our customers. When I talk to landscapers, sports field managers, and others in our industry and tell them that
this program equates to just around 50 cents per pallet of sod they tell me they would pay that knowing that it is going to protect and promote their industry as well. Sod farmers are fully within their rights to add the checkoff assessments to their invoices and again, everyone benefits. Many of our sod customers know just as well as we do the threats we face from misinformation aimed at limiting or banning natural grass all-together.
Tere is still plenty of time to learn more about the proposed program ahead of next year’s vote, and there is even more information on pages 54 – 56 of this issue of Turf News. You can also visit the website
SodCheckoff.org. And you can check out the Turf Industry Calendar on page 80 of this issue for an upcoming meeting near you— or call me to schedule one. As always, please reach out anytime, and I will answer any questions you have on this or other topics. Tanks for all you do for our industry!
Cheers,
There is an old saying that I am sure we’ve all heard that
states, “If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.”
Please follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram! @TPITurfTalk @TheLawnInstitute 4
@TurfgrassProducersInternational @TheLawnInstitute
@TheLawnInstitute TPI Turf News July/August 2021
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